MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY ON STAGE WITH THE GATOR

He was once arrested for playing the bongo drums in the buff, but big screen dream Matthew McConaughey was doing the arresting in an impromptu performance at Revesby Workers Club on Saturday night.

Audiences who paid to see US blues singer Tony Joe White were treated to some surprise sounds from the Hollywood star when he appeared on stage to beat his bongos mid-way through the show. Far from a red carpet entrance, the laid-back heartthrob avoided fanfare by entering the club via the loading dock and was introduced only as “Matthew” when he appeared on stage.

“But he was very good and was absolutely lovely – he didn’t try to overpower Tony Joe White at all.”

Club entertainment supervisor Shane Devine confirmed it was the Fools Gold star, who shares the same southern American roots with the Louisiana-based White: “He just popped up, he came in through the loading dock … and he and Tony Joe White had a few drinks and a laugh together back stage. He was dressed casually in jeans and a shirt and looked very relaxed – he seemed to be enjoying himself.”

McConaughey, who has been based on the Gold Coast filming Fools Gold opposite Kate Hudson, is understood to have arrived in Sydney late last week.

Perhaps in preparation for his next film Surfer, Dude, the 36-year-old Texan enjoyed a quick dip at Bondi ahead of his Saturday night show.